Hair Raisers: Fidele Essan, Stylist at Majesty Salon

Hair’s a big deal to most people. (That’s what our balding friends tell us.) The problem in Beijing is that hair care, with its myriad local providers and the language barrier, is just another reason to pull your hair out. We rounded up some of the city’s most respected friends of the follicle and asked them everything you’d ever wanted to know about getting a good haircut. Here's what Fidele Essan had to say about some hairy topics.

The most popular haircuts that our customers ask for? Women mostly get weaves. Men get cornrows or dreadlocks.

To evaluate another stylist, I would ask them to pick up a comb, and I can tell if they’re experienced or not just by how they’re holding the comb.

The oddest thing a client has ever asked me to do? Some guy asked for really long hair extensions to look like a woman.

The biggest mistake clients make is either negligence or they’ll use fake products that aren’t good for their hair. Then I have to fix it for them.

The longest I’ve ever spent on a hairstyle is six hours doing dreadlocks.

The most difficult type of hair to work with is soft hair. Could be Caucasian, could be Asian – as long as it’s soft, it’s harder to work with. It’s easier to be expressive with African hair because of its hardness.

Someone told me she went all the way to the United States, and still no one could do her hair like I could. I also get a lot of marriage proposals from guys. Many, many, many

Who would I consider a well-coiffed man or woman? Rihanna, Beyonce and R. Kelly.

My advice for new stylists would be: “Be very attentive and respectful towards the client.”

If I could only do one hairstyle for the rest of my life, it would be dreadlocks.

The profession most similar to hairstyling is composer, because they’re both creative and artistic. With both, you’re creating something new.

I never make mistakes. I’m flawless.

Majesty Salon A116, Shifang Haoting, 16 Xinyuanli, Chaoyang District (5946 7177) 朝阳区新源里16号世方豪庭A116

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